Boston deputy fire chief to serve at least 18 years for rape, kidnap

Friday

May 10, 2013 at 12:01 AMMay 10, 2013 at 10:10 AM

A jury found Peter Pearson of East Bridgewater, a former Boston deputy fire chief, guilty on 16 of 18 charges Thursday, including aggravated rape, impersonating a police officer, and kidnapping in Plymouth County Superior Court in Brockton. He was charged in connection with several incidents involving five women who admitted they were former prostitutes. He faces up to 25 to 30 years on each of the rape and kidnapping charges.

Erin Shannon

The victims wiped away tears and embraced as they walked out of Brockton Superior Court.
They crossed the street to the district attorney’s office parking lot, putting as much space as they could between themselves and Courtroom No. 3, they said.

It was in that courtroom where the five women – victims of Peter Pearson – had relived the horrors of when he kidnapped and raped them at gunpoint while posing as a state police trooper.

It was in that courtroom that they had faced Pearson and more than a dozen of his family and friends, including his wife and two sons.

And it was in that courtroom they were called liars by the defense attorney because their pasts included prostitution, drug use and incarceration.

But finally on Thursday, it was in Courtroom No. 3 they heard a jury call out the verdict they had hoped for.

“Guilty.”

“We feel like justice was served,” said one of the women, whose names are not being disclosed because they were the victims of sexual assault. “If we hadn’t come forward, he would still be out there preying on the weak and the vulnerable and the sick and the suffering.”

Another victim spoke with tears in her eyes.

“We didn’t collectively have a voice because of the circumstances in our lives,” she said. “It was all worth it. He can’t hurt another woman.”

Pearson, 56, of 142 Village Road, East Bridgewater, was convicted on multiple counts of aggravated rape, assault with the intent to rape, four counts of kidnapping, two counts of indecent assault and battery on a person over 14, and four counts of impersonating a police officer.

The former Boston deputy fire chief was sentenced to a minimum of 18 years in state prison at Cedar Junction.

“He is, by definition, a serial rapist,” said Donatelle. “He betrayed the duty he has as a firefighter and as a person who should help people.”

Pearson, who was arrested in 2008, would pose as a state police officer, using a badge and a handheld radio, trial testimony showed. He took his victims to places in Brockton like D.W. Field Park and the parking lot of a hospital and would force them to perform oral sex on him.

The crimes occurred during an 11-year period, from 1997 to 2008.

Following his arrest, investigators executed search warrants at his East Bridgewater home and his Boston Fire Department locker.

Pearson pleaded not guilty to all of the charges in 2008.

After deliberating for 31/2 hours over two days, the jury of nine women and three men on Thursday morning found Pearson guilty on 16 of the 18 indictments against him, and not guilty on two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon.

His sentence was 18 to 20 years on five counts, nine years on one count, four years on two counts and one year on four counts, all to be served concurrently. Gaziano also sentenced Pearson to five years probation with conditions that he provide a DNA sample and stay away from the victims upon release.

After the verdict the victims, who each testified during the 10-day trial, gathered.

“I thought I would be relieved but I’m not,” said one victim. “I feel horrible for that family, they’re victims, too.”

Pearson’s family and friends wept in the Courtroom No. 3 on Thursday as the jury foreman announced “guilty” 16 times.

Pearson was then handcuffed and led out of the courtroom by court officers. Before reaching the door, he turned around and winked toward his sobbing wife and sons.

Erin Shannon may be reached at eshannon@enterprisenews.com or follow on Twitter @Erin_Enterprise.